Pairing natural organic elements, timeless touches and a few vintage vibes to up the whimsy.
Tell us a little about yourselves, what you do, what you love…
We are located in Portland, Oregon. Teal is originally from Northern California but has been happily settled in Portland with Blake (a Portland native) since we both graduated from college. Outside of work, we spend our days hanging out with our pets, planning outdoor adventures and trips, attending concerts and enjoying all the beauty that the PNW has to offer.
How/where/when did you meet – and what were your first impressions?
Blake and I first met at a music festival and later reconnected while attending the University of Oregon in Eugene. During the weekend we met, we had an instant spark that slowly developed into a deeper, trusted connection. I was drawn to Blake’s humour and innate confidence in himself. According to Blake, he was immediately taken aback by my free-spirited nature and impeccable music taste, cute!
What styling and visual elements worked best for you? (could be things, the florals, particular hire products or your marquee, etc., something the stylist created or simply just the scenic beauty of your location or the existing design of your venue).
One of the highlights of getting married in the PNW is being surrounded by so much natural beauty, which was an element we wanted to highlight for the overall style of our wedding and our out-of-town guests. We prioritised enhancing, rather than overhauling, with a focus on pairing natural organic elements, timeless touches and a few vintage vibes to up the whimsy. All these elements made the day feel so special and unique to us, exactly our dream!
What did you enjoy most about the planning process, and do you have any tips for couples starting their wedding planning journey?
Throughout the entire planning process, the best moment had to be watching the day evolve from a dream into a reality. As much as we trusted our vision along the way, nothing beats when all the elements have been paired together, and you can see it in real life. As far as tips, we found it so helpful to set boundaries with wedding planning discussions and take plenty of breaks when decisions felt too convoluted. Our dream day was effortless and organic, with our main priority focused on our guests feeling as special as we wanted to. Having those guiding factors really helped us throughout the planning journey.
Tell us about your vendors. Were there any standout suppliers you would like to make special mention of?
Our entire team were truly all such gems. We feel beyond lucky to have worked with such an incredible group of vendors, but honestly, we couldn’t have accomplished the vision of the day without our amazing planners, Hanna and Kate, at Hosted By. They made the planning process well-organised and seamless, and with their incredible style, we knew we could rely on them for all design inspiration and ideation. Seriously, a dream team!
Tell us about your main outfits, what was unique, and is there a story?
Blake rented his tux and his groomsmen’s suits, which made for such a nice, simple process for the group. I had some decision fatigue while wedding dress shopping, and, with the support of friends and family, shopped both in Portland and Seattle. At our last stop, I finally found a dress that felt right, a beautiful separates look from SEPT by Sarah Seven.
As much as I loved it, it was unfortunately a bit beyond budget. But luckily, I’m a thrifter! I was so excited to locate a second-hand version of the skirt via a reseller app, and had it shipped to me from the UK. From there, I located an amazing designer on Etsy (@ReevBridal) to design a custom corset top. I had a few moments of “what the hell am I doing” until both pieces arrived, and the vision came to life.
Tell us about your wedding and engagement rings.
My engagement ring came from a local Portland jeweller, Malka Diamond. It’s truly perfect! Blake’s wedding band came from a seller on Etsy, and I fell in love with my wedding band designer after seeing her work on TikTok. With a lower set engagement ring, I needed a specific fit, but Kayle with Kayge was able to help me create something that fit together beautifully.
What were one or two elements that were most important to you both that you were happy to spend a little more on? (food, photography, florals, the venue, your outfits?).
We wanted our guests to have nothing but fun at our wedding, and felt like food and bev was the easiest way to their hearts. This was an area we were happy to spend on, and we loved everything provided by our amazing caterer and bartender. We’re also very passionate about photography, and knew that prioritising an incredible photographer would help us remember this day forever. We’re so glad we worked with Elissa and would book her over and over!
Was there a favourite moment (or two) that you will treasure always?
Our final song at our wedding was All My Friends by LCD Soundsystem. Once our DJ queued it, and knowing it meant the end of the night, it felt so special to dance with Blake and look around at all our friends and family vibing and leaving it all on the dance floor to close out the wedding. Honestly, a memory we’ll never forget.
What does being married mean to you, and are there any special rituals you have that you would like to share?
Blake and I were together for 10 years before deciding to get married, so we were very sure we were it for each other. For us our wedding was a moment to bring all our friends and family from the past decade of our relationship back together. As we entered marriage, one of our priorities has always been to make time for fun, whether that’s a hike, a concert, a weekend away, or just spending quality time together. That’s a ritual we’ll continue to bring into our married life.
LOCATION Rocky Hill Weddings and Events, White Salmon, Washington, USA, @rockyhillevents BRIDE Teal, @tealgrace GROOM Blake, @blake.thomas.riley PHOTOGRAPHER Elissa Deline Photography, @elissadeline PLANNER Hosted By, @hostedby.co FLORIST Novella Theory, @novella_floral CELEBRANT Friend ENTERTAINMENT DJ Rocky HIRE Arden Event Collective, @ardeneventcollective CATERING The Hive Catering Co., @thehivecateringco CAKE Lauretta Jeans, @laurettajeans DESSERT TABLE Milk Glass Market, @milkglassmrkt STATIONERY Self-designed ENGAGEMENT RING Malka Diamonds, @malkadiamonds WEDDING BANDS Custom design from Kayge, @kayge_studio OTHER SIGNIFICANT JEWELLERY Custom pearl necklace & bracelet by the bride’s mother’s jewelry brand, Starseed Originals, @starseedoriginals BRIDE’S OUTFIT Skirt – SEPT by Sarah Seven, @sarahseven; Second-hand version, custom corset top by Etsy seller, Reev Bridal, @reevbridal BRIDE’S SHOES Chinese Laundry, @chineselaundry BEAUTY Kelli Thomsen, @kellithomsen BRIDE’S AFTER PARTY DRESS Doen, @shopdoen GROOM’S TUXEDO & SHOES Rented from The Black Tux, @theblacktux BRIDESMAIDS DRESSES ASOS, @asos; Lulus, @lulus; Meshki, @meshki; Birdy Grey, @birdygrey DRAPING IN RECEPTION Rune Stone Events, @runestoneevents BAR Bliss Bar, @bliss_bar PHOTOBOOTH Stumptown Booth, @stumptownbooth
